Tab for addressing machine plates



Nov. 24, 1953 E. OSTWALDT 2,660,176

. TAB FOR ADDRESSING MACHINE PLATES Filed March 51, 1949 1 Invenfof I Ostwwldt By Afforney Patented Nov. 24, 1953 TAB FOR ADDRESSING MACHINE PLATES Erich Ostwaldt, Berlin-Hermsdorf, Germany, as-

signor to Adrema Maschinenbau G. m. b. H.,

Berlin, Germany Application March 31, 1949, Serial No. 84,681

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tab for the printing plates of addressing machines.

Such tabs are adapted for insertion through slots in the printing plates. Conventional printing plates are provided at the outer edge with guide rims consisting of a folded over edge forming a hollow channel and the outer edge of these rims are provided with a plurality of slots or recesses arranged in alignment for detachably receiving exchangeable riders or tabs. In connection with these slots, the edges thereof constitute projections between which shanks or feet of the riders or tabs are inserted.

It is necessary that these tabs be rather firmly seated in the slots in the rims of the plates and it has previously been proposed to either construct tabs with double walls and provide springs between the walls which cooperate with the end edges of the slots or to provide the feet or shanks of the tabs with slits or spaced feet in order to impart resilience to the tab shanks.

The first of these proposals obviously results in a tab that is relatively expensive to manufacture. With regard to the second of the proposals, the split shanks of the tabs are to provide springy projections and, if these projections are near the transitions from the shanks or the feet to the main body of the tab, the springiness or resiliency thereof is rather small. On the other hand if the projections are arranged at the extremities of the shanks, then it is necessary to provide additional holding means on printing plates to cooperate therewith.

Accordingly the present invention has for an object to provide a rider or tab that is economical to manufacture and can be firmly fixed in the slots on the printing plates without the necessity of modifying the printing plate to provide any means to cooperate with the tab.

It is a specific object to provide a rider or tab which includes a flat main body portion and an integral foot portion extending therefrom in the form of a split ring having a transverse dimension less than the transverse dimension of the main body portion and the free end or which ring is adjacent the point of transition of the shoulder separating the main body from the foot whereby the end of the split ring cooperates with the adjacent edge of the slot when inserted therethrough to maintain the tab in position.

It is a further and still more specific object of the invention to slit the ring obliquely from the outer edge toward the main body portion so that the free end of the split ring is in locking sliding engagement with the body portion.

It is a further and more specific object to provide a tab having multiple feet engageable with adjacent slots at least one of which feet constitutes an integral split ring extending from the main body portion of the tab having a free end 2 disposed adjacent the shoulder on the tab that bears against the rim of the printing plate.

Further and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a tab made in accordance with the invention inserted into the slot in a printing plate, the edges of which are shown in section.

Figure 2 is a side view similar to Figure 1 showing the tab inserted in the slot in the rim of the printing plate.

Figures 8 and 4 illustrate different modifications of a tab according to the invention provided with a plurality of shanks or feet.

Figure 5 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a printing plate with a plurality of tabs insertedi therein.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken through the printing plate shown in Figure 5; and

shown in Figure 1.

In connection with the drawings, the printing: plate for the addressing machine is illustrated at I and includes oppositely disposed borders or guiding ledges 2 each of which are in channel? formation. One of these rims is provided with a. plurality of aligned slots through which are in-- serted tabs or riders. These tabs or riders are made from spring steel bands or sheets, from brass or other suitable resilient material preferably by a punching or stamping operation. The tab illustrated in Figure 1 includes a main fiat body portion 3 and an integral hook-like shank or foot 4. This shank 4 constitutes a split ring which terminates in a free end shaped as an abutment adapted to engage the adjacent edge 6 of the slot in the printing plate. As shown in the drawing, the main body portion of the tab is wider than the slot is long and the foot has a width less than the main body portion so as to define shoulders l and 8 which bear against the upper edge of the rim when the foot is inserted in the slot. The abutment that cooperates with the edge 6 of the slot is formed. by cutting away the outer edge of the end 5 of the split ring. In the stamping out of the split ring from the main body and then splitting of the ring, the free end of the ring terminates adjacent the shoulder 1. As the split ring is of springy material throughout its length, due to its particular shape its holding action is very eiiective. The ring must have a transverse dimension in excess of the length of the slot so that upon insertion the free end 5 is deflected inwardly toward the main body portion and when the shoulder 1 abuts the rim of the plate the outer edge of the free end 5 will spring outward in engagement with the edge 6 of the slot.

3 in connection with the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3 and '4, the tab is provided 'in each instance with tworfe'et. In Figure 3 the shank or foot 9 is again a split ring as described in connection with the arrangement of Figure 1 and the free end of shank 9 bears against the adjacent edge of the slot through which "it is inserted. It is noted that in this arrangementthere is no en= gagement between the edge- '0 of the slot and-the adjacent surface of the shank 9. The other foot or shank, while integral with the main body por; tion, is solid and non-springy but has an angled edge which is pressed against the edge P2 of the slot through which it is inserted due to the resilient action of the split shank or ring 9-.

In the arrangement of, Figure 4, each of the.

shanks or feet constitute integral split rings 13 and, the free ends of which are oppositely disposed so as to engage respectively against the adjacent edges of the slots through which they arefinserted thereby holding the tabs in position.

In the modification illustrated in Figure '7, the foot or shank of the tab is again a split ring it. However there is no space between the free end thereof and the main body portion'asinthe previous arrangements but the ring is obliquely slit from the edge of the main body constituting the shoulder inwardly and-upwardly toward the main body; Thus the free end is in locking sliding engagement with the main body portion and dueto the'protuberant portion ofthe split ringcan be deflected inwardly when the tab is inserted through the slot, its outward movement is limited to the extent that while it can move outward far enough to resiliently engage the adjacent edge of the slot, it cannot separate to any extent from the main body portion thereby minimizing deformation. I

Figures 5 and G illustrate a printing plate I provided with a plurality of tabs in accordance with the arrangement-shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It is thus clear that the present invention providesan addressing machine tab arrangement comprising an addressing machine printingplate including'a rim havingaligned slots therein and a tab comprising a hat,- thin, me tallic main body portion of a width in excess of the extent of at least one slot in the rim so that thebody portion projects beyond the edges thereon The tab has upper and lower edges with an integral foot portion that is coplanar with the body portion extending from the lower edge; This foot portion is of less width than the width of the main body portion so that the surfaces of the lower edge outwardly of thefootportion engage or are adapted to rest upon the rim of a plate when the foot portion is inserted in a slot therein. These surfaces of the lower" edge thus constitute shoulder surfaces on appssite sides of the root The foot portion further constitutes a flat resilient split ring of s'ub'sta'n tiall-y uniform rectangular transverse cross sec' tiori throughout its lengtnand which ring ter-'-- minates in a free end adjacent one of the shoul ders'. The width of the foot portion adjacent the free end is slightly in excess of the lineal'xtent of a slot so that the free end is forced'to yield inwardly when the foot portion is inserted into a slot and is thus adapted for resilient engagement and does resiliently engage the adjacent end edge of the slot when the tab is ins'erte'd through the slot to permanently-seat the 4 7, claim as new and. useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United states is:

1-. An addressing machine tab arrangement comprising an addressing machine printing plate including a rim having aligned slots therein, and a tab comprising a fiat, thin main body portion "or a width in excess of the extent of at least one slot so as to ro ect beyond the edges thereof, at least "one foot portion insertable through one or said slots, said foot portion being integral with the main body portion and of less width than the body portion so as to provide oppositely disposed shoulders adapted to rest on the rim of the printing plate beyond the end edges of the slot, said-toot portion being in the form of a flat split resilient ring oo-planar with the main body portion and terminating in a free end and havinga width from outer edge to outer edge of slightly greater extent at the areaadjacent the shoulders than the length of the slot. the free end of said ring being adjacent one shoulder and the outer edge therof being engageable against the adjacent edge of the slot in the rim when the tab is inserted therethrough whereby said free end isyieldable inwardly on insertion into the slot and the outer edge is resiliently engageable with the end of the slot when the tab is inserted to firmly seat the tab in the slot.

2. An addressing inach'ine tab arrangement comprising an addressing machine printing plate including a rim having aligned slots therein, and a'tab including a flat, thin main body portion of a Width greater than the lineal extent of the rim that includes two adjacent slots, a pair of foot portions respectively insertable through two adjacent slot-s, said foot portions being integral with the main body portion and defining oppositely disposed shoulders thereon engageable with the rim beyond the end edges of the adjacent slots and said foot portions be; ing co-planar with the main body portion and constituting fiat open resilient rings each terminating in a free end adjacent a shoulder on the main body portion and said free ends being resiliently engageable against the adjacent end edges of the respective slots when the tab is inserted therethrough.

3. An addressing machine tab arrangement comprising an addressing machine printing plate including a rim having aligned slots therein, and a tab including a flat, thin main body portion of a width greater than the lineal extent of the rim thatincludes two adjacent slots, a pair of foot portions respectively insert'able through two adjacent slots, said foot portions being integral with the main body portion and defining oppositely disposed shoulders thereon engageable with the rim beyond the end edges of the adjacent slots and said foot portions being co'eplanai with the main body portion and constituting fiat open resilient rings each terminating in a free end adjacent a shoulder on the main body portion and said free ends being disposed in opposite directions along the body portion of said tab with the shoulders engaging th the outer edges or the free emis "r' si i any: efi gag-mg against the ad acent 'dg' sf acii'oi said slots when the tab is inserted therethrough.

4. A tab adapted for engagement in the slots in the rim of an addressing machine printing plate comprising a fiat, thin main body portion and at" l'east' one foot portion adapted for insertion through aslot, said foot portion being Having now described my i ti hat f 13 integral with and of less width than the main body portion to define oppositely disposed shoulders adapted to engage the rim beyond the end edges of slot and said foot portion being coplanar with the main body portion and in the form of a flat resilient ring open along a line approximately through its center and one of the shoulders on the main body portion to provide a free end adjacent said shoulder adapted to resiliently engage against the adjacent end edge of a slot when a tab is inserted thereinto.

5. A tab adapted for engagement in the slots in the rim of an addressing machine printing plate comprising a fiat, thin main body portion and a foot portion adapted for insertion through a slot, said foot portion being integral with and of less width than the main body portion to define oppositely disposed shoulders adapted to engage the rim beyond the end edges of a slot and said foot portion being co-planar with the main body portion and in the form of a flat open resilient ring of substantially uniform rectangular transverse cross-section throughout its length and terminating in a free end adjacent one of the shoulders whereby said free end is adapted to yield inwardly on insertion into a slot and thus adapted for resilient engagement with the adjacent end edge of a slot when the tab is inserted thereinto so as to firmly seat the tab in the slot.

6. An addressing machine tab arrangement as defined in and by claim 1 wherein said main body portion has opposite side edges and a width in excess of the lineal extent of two adjacent I slots and wherein two foot portions are integral with said main body portion and respectively insertable through adjacent slots, one of said foot portions constituting an integral split ring terminating in a free end lying adjacent a shoulder portion adjacent one side edge of the main body portion and the other of said foot portions constituting an integral tab having an uninterrupted planar surface and opposite edges, said split ring having a width adjacent the shoulders on the main body portion in excess of the lineal extent of a slot whereby when said tab is inserted through adjacent slots the free end of the said first mentioned foot portion is yieldable inwardly on insertion through the slot and resiliently engageable against the adjacent edge of the slot and the edge of said other :foot portion I adjacent the opposite edge of said main body is engageable against the adjacent edge of the slot into which it is inserted so that the cooperative engagement between the respective foot portions and the adjacent edges of the slots in the plate firmly seats the tab in the plate. 1

7. A rider tab for insertion in a slot in the rim of a printing plate foran addressing machine constituting a fiat body portion and a foot portion adapted for resilient locking engagement in a slot, said foot portion constituting an integral split ring co-planar with the flat body portion, said body portion having aligned shoulder portions adapted for engagement on the rim of the plate beyond the end edges of a slot and the opening in said split ring lying adjacent one shoulder portion and constituting a split extending from the shoulder obliquely into the main body portion so that the free end of said ring is in sliding engagement with the flat bodyportion whereby said free end is adapted to yield inwardly on insertion into a slot so as to be resiliently engageable with the adjacent end of a slot when the tab is inserted andthis oblique disposition of the opening in the split 5 ring limiting outward movement of the free end to minimize accidental deformation thereof.

8. A tab adapted for insertion in and securing to the slotted rim of an addressing machine printing plate, said tab comprising a flat, thin sheet metal main body portion having upper and lower edges, an integral co-planar foot portion extending from the lower edge of the body portion and of less width than the width of the body portion so that the surfaces of the lower edge outwardly of the foot portion are adapted to engage and rest upon the rim of a plate when the foot portion is inserted in a slot therein to thus constitute shoulder surfaces extending laterally from opposite sides of the foot portion, said foot portion consisting of an annular flat resilient split ring of substantially uniform rectangular transverse cross-section throughout its length, said ring terminating in a free end, said free end being adjacent one of the shoulder surfaces and including an outer edge adapted to engage against the adjacent edge of a slot in the rim of a plate when the foot portion of the tab is inserted through the slot so as to yield inwardly to thereby be resiliently biased against the edge of the slot so as to firmly seat the tab in the plate.

9. An addressing machine tab arrangement comprising an addressing machine printing plate including a rim having aligned slots therein, and a tab comprising'a flat, thin main body portion of a width greater than the length of a slot, and a foot portion insertable through a slot, said foot portion being integral with and of less width than the main body portion to define oppositely disposed shoulders engageable with the rim beyond the end edges of a slot, said foot portion being co-planar with the main body portion and constituting a flat resilient open ring of substantially uniform rectangular transverse cross-section throughout its length and said ring terminating in a free end adjacent one of the shoulders, the width of the foot portion adjacent said free end being slightly in excess of the lineal extent of the'slot and including an outer edge engaging against the adjacent end edge of the slot when the foot portion is inserted therethrough so that the free end of the ring yields inwardly and thus resiliently biased against the edge of the slot to provide a firm seating between tab and plate.

ERICH VOSTWALDT.

Number Name Date 808,909 Duncan et a1. Jan. 2, 1906 353,539 Duncan May 14, 1907 1,026,253 Duncan May 14, 1912 1,732,686 Krell Oct. 22, 1929 1,744,560 Lukacs Jan. 21, 1930 1,807,954 Anderson June 2, 1931 1,816,344 Schleifer July 28, 1931 1,821,108 Mohler 1 Sept. 1,- 1931 2,235,376 Krell Mar. 18, 1941 2,283,151 Van Uum May 12, 1942 2,327,329 Murphy Aug. 17, 1943 2,438,282 Gruver Mar. 23, 1948 0 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 Country Date 698,941 France Feb. 6, 1931 240,469 Switzerland Dec. 31, 1945 

